North Indiana UMC Annual Conference

Long time, no post. I wouldn't say I've been too busy, but I just haven't really found anything to blog about.

I spent last week at North Indiana Annual Conference, the annual gathering of 1,000 United Methodist clergy and laity (the people in the pews) in the north half of Indiana. I was a candidate for representing the Conference at General Conference (once every 4 years the global UMC gathers) or Jurisdictional Conference (a gathering of north central US UMCs every 4 years, in the summer after General Conference). There was 1 young adult clergy and 1 lay youth elected to fill two of the 22 slots (10 clergy with 2 alternates, 10 laity with 2 alternates). Don't get me wrong, that's good, but it doesn't say much for raising up leaders from youth and young adults within north Indiana. There were also decisions passed and conversations about youth and youth adult ministries at Annual Conference that leave me feeling the neglect of my generation by the conference.

I'm not really one to talk about God "tugging on my heart strings." But if I were, I would think that was happening this week. I did a lot of complaining last week. It got to the point where I was asking myself why I continue to go to Annual Conference if I apparently don't like going. And I came to the conclusion that I want to be a part of the leadership of the conference, and I want to see the best of the conference. I want to see the ministry of the Young Adult council thrive, but I honestly don't see myself leading that. (I know, I know, every pastor and leader's nightmare--someone else who has ideas but doesn't want to carry them out.) But it's not that I don't want to carry them out, it's that I don't see my gifts in that area. I want to see the ministry thrive, so I'll be a part of the ministry, but I think others would be better at leading it. A cop out?....maybe, but that's where I am. So, I need to spend some time discerning how I want to get involved to a deeper level. Some prayers for that would be fantastic.